Storm players ‘not aware’ of rorts

Storm star Billy Slater is among the players found to have received third-party payments Photo: Paul Kane

Superstars Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater were among 13 past and present Melbourne Storm players who received extra payments as part of the NRL club's salary cap breach.

But they may not have known the payments were contributing to the club's cap rorting, according the findings of investigation commissioned by Storm owners News Limited.

News Ltd chief executive John Hartigan confirmed on Thursday the Storm's breaches totalled $3.17 million from 2006 until the end of this season - around 80 per cent higher than the $1.7 million originally predicted by the NRL.

But he said the findings of the audit, conducted by accounting firm Deloitte, found no evidence to suggest the players or companies involved in third party payments knew they were involved in cheating the cap.

Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Anthony Quinn and Brett White were the others of seven currents players named while six former players - Dallas Johnson, Will Chambers, Mick Crocker, Matt Geyer, Steve Turner and Antonio Kaufusi - also received extra payments.

"No evidence was found that these players or their managers and agents knew that these third party payments and benefits could contribute to a breach of the salary cap," Hartigan told reporters in Sydney.

But Hartigan was fuming none of the Storm players were willing to co-operate with investigators.

"Regrettably not one of the players agreed to co-operate with the investigation ... in my view it's totally unacceptable," he said.

"I'm pleased to confirm that Craig Bellamy did cooperate with News Ltd's investigators."

Hartigan said the main method used to conceal extra payments to players was through third party payments, from companies including the Unity Foundation and the McManus Group.

But the report also found no evidence to suggest these companies knew the payments were contributing to a salary cap breach.

Hartigan said the investigation identified five managers that were involved in cheating the system, who he labelled "rats in the ranks".

He named former chief executive Brian Waldron as well as Matt Hanson, Paul Gregory, Peter O'Sullivan and Cameron Vale.

"How did this happen? The answer is we had some rats in our ranks," Hartigan said.

"A small group of senior managers at the club, orchestrated and concealed the extra payments.

Hartigan announced sweeping changes to the board, including the sacking of chairman Rob Moodie and fellow independent directors Petra Fawcett, Peter Maher and Gerry Ryan.

Stephen Rue was appointed to the board alongside Craig Watt and Frank Stanton, the acting chief executive.

Hartigan, who revealed the Storm was almost $1 million over the cap in the 2010 season alone, said the club had no choice but to accept the harsh penalties imposed by the NRL, which included the stripping of two premierships and forcing the club to play for no points this season.

"Sadly the severe penalties handed down by the NRL ... are in my opinion warranted," Hartigan said.

"... The actions of a few in the club has stripped it of premierships."

Hartigan said the findings of the report would be referred to police.

"Is it fraud? That's something for the police to decide," he said.

But he vowed News Ltd would stick by the club, promising a "new leadership direction".

"The Storm and its fans have shown remarkable resilience and pride over the past three months and they will be premiers again," Hartigan said.